1|ENGROSSED SENATE |
|BILL NO. 880 By: Grellner of the Senate |
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| Jenkins of the House |
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6| An Act relating to the practice of alcohol and drug |
| counseling; amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 1873, as |
7| amended by Section 1, Chapter 88, O.S.L. 2023 (59 |
| O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 1873), which relates to the |
8| Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug |
| Counselors; eliminating certain educational |
9| requirement; removing obsolete language; updating |
| statutory language; and declaring an emergency. |
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12|BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: |
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13| SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Section 1873, as |
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14|amended by Section 1, Chapter 88, O.S.L. 2023 (59 O.S. Supp. 2024, |
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15|Section 1873), is amended to read as follows: |
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16| Section 1873. A. There is hereby re-created, to continue until |
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17|July 1, 2025, in accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma |
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18|Sunset Law, the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug |
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19|Counselors, consisting of seven (7) members, to be appointed by the |
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20|Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, as follows: |
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21|provided by subsection B of this section. |
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22| B. 1. a. Six members who shall be alcohol and drug |
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23| counselors certified by an entity recognized to do |
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24| professional alcohol and drug counseling certification |
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1| in this state; provided, however, five of such members |
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2| shall subsequently secure licensure and one such |
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3| member shall subsequently secure certification, |
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4| pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and |
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5| Drug Counselors Act, no later than January 1, 2005. |
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6| b. Thereafter, five Five members shall be licensed |
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7| alcohol and drug counselors at the time of |
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8| appointment, and one member shall be certified as an |
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9| alcohol and drug counselor at the time of appointment. |
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10| c. Pursuant to. Each such member shall be licensed or |
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11| certified in good standing and shall have at least |
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12| three (3) years of experience in the practice of |
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13| alcohol and drug counseling in this state. Of the |
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14| members appointed under the provisions of this |
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15| paragraph, the Governor shall appoint: |
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16| (1) a. four members from a list of names submitted by the |
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17| Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselors |
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18| Counselor Association, |
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19| (2) b. one member from a list of names submitted by the |
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20| Oklahoma Substance Abuse Services Alliance Oklahoma |
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21| Behavioral Health Association, and |
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22| (3) c. one member from a list of names submitted by the |
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23| Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Treatment |
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24| Transformation Association. |
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1| d. |
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2| 2. One member shall be appointed from and shall represent the |
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3|general public. Such member shall be a resident of this state who |
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4|has attained the age of majority and shall not be, nor shall ever |
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5|have been, a licensed or certified alcohol and drug counselor, or |
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6|the spouse of a licensed or certified alcohol and drug counselor, or |
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7|a person who has ever had any material financial interest in the |
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8|provision of alcohol and drug counseling services or has engaged in |
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9|any activity directly related to the practice of alcohol and drug |
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10|counseling. |
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11| 2. The composition of the Board shall include five members who |
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12|hold a master's or higher degree and one member whose highest degree |
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13|held is a bachelor's degree. |
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14| 3. The Governor shall appoint the members to the Board no later |
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15|than July 1, 2004. |
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16| B. Each member of the Board appointed as a licensed alcohol and |
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17|drug counselor shall: |
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18| 1. Be certified or licensed to engage in the practice of |
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19|alcohol and drug counseling in this state and shall be in good |
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20|standing; and |
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21| 2. Have at least three (3) years of experience in the practice |
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22|of alcohol and drug counseling in this state. |
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23| C. Two of the members initially appointed shall serve |
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24|three-year terms; two shall serve four-year terms and three shall |
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1|serve five-year terms, as designated by the Governor. Thereafter, |
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2|the The terms of all members shall be five (5) years. |
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3| D. A vacancy on the Board shall be filled in the same manner as |
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4|the original appointment for the balance of the unexpired term. |
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5|Members may succeed themselves but shall serve no more than two |
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6|consecutive terms. Each member shall serve until a successor is |
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7|appointed and qualified. |
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8| E. Members of the Board may be removed from office for one or |
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9|more of the following reasons: |
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10| 1. The refusal or inability for any reason to perform the |
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11|duties of a Board member in an efficient, responsible and |
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12|professional manner; |
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13| 2. The misuse of office for pecuniary or material gain or for |
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14|personal advantage for self or another; |
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15| 3. A violation of the laws or rules governing the practice of |
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16|alcohol and drug counseling; or |
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17| 4. Conviction of a felony as verified by a certified copy of |
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18|the record of the court of conviction. |
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19| F. Members of the Board shall serve without compensation, but |
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20|shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel expenses as |
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21|provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act. |
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22| SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the preservation |
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23|of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby |
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1|declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and |
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2|be in full force from and after its passage and approval. |
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3| Passed the Senate the 24th day of March, 2025. |
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| Presiding Officer of the Senate |
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7| Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, |
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8|2025. |
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| Presiding Officer of the House |
11| of Representatives |
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